Indigenous Food Frontiers in the Early American West

Natale Zappia is an associate professor and the Nadine Austin Wood Chair in American History at Whittier College. His work explores the intersection of food systems, Indigenous political economies, and ecological transformations across early North America. His recent book, Traders and Raiders: The Indigenous World of the Colorado Basin (UNC Press, 2014; paperback 2016), tells the early history of the Indigenous Lower Colorado River. Previously, Zappia served as the Executive Director of the Garden School Foundation, an environmental non-profit based in South Los Angeles focusing on ecological literacy. He continues his focus on food justice issues as co-director of Whittier College's Sustainable Urban Farm Lab and co-director of Whittier's Integrated Arts and Humanities Program.